How do you clean a burned pan?

A:

Quick Answer

Clean a burned pan by adding vinegar and water, and then simmering the pot on the stove. Choose to cover the pan for more effective cleaning, or leave the lid off for a natural room deodorizer. Add baking soda to lift the burned material, then scour with more baking soda.

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Pour a generous amount of any vinegar into the pan, and add water. Place the pan on the stove, and turn up the heat to bring the liquid to a simmer. After a few minutes, turn off the heat.

Decide about a lid

Covering the pan helps to reduce evaporation of the liquid while simmering and clean the upper sides of the pan. However, if the burned food is causing a smell in the house, leaving the pan uncovered allows the vinegar to provide natural deodorizing to eliminate the odor.

Add baking soda

This neutralization reaction causes the liquid in the pan to fizz. The bubbles that form help to lift stubborn stains from the pan. Once the fizzing stops, empty the liquid from the pan.

Scour with baking soda

Pour dry baking soda into the slightly damp pan, and use it as a scouring powder. Baking soda has the right amount of abrasion to lift the stain without scratching the pan.